Matthew Shoemaker opposes police board helping charities
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A city councillor who recently joined Sault Ste. Marie Police Services Board doesn’t agree with the group making charitable donations to community groups.
Ward 3 Coun. Matthew Shoemaker joined the board earlier this year and announced his plan to run for mayor earlier this week. Mayor Christian Provenzano stepped down after the board’s January meeting to allow a city councillor to get experience with the group. Provenzano is not seeking re-election in the fall.
Shoemaker, speaking during a police board meeting on Thursday afternoon, said he opposes “public funds” being donated by the group that oversees city police.
“They should go to the police service’s needs, so they should probably be used for one-time purchases that the police service needs as opposed to being donated out,” said Shoemaker. “These are public dollars and they should be put to a public purpose, none of which is served by donating them to events.”
Groups the police board have assisted include Easter Seals Ontario, Alzheimer’s Walk for Memories and Special Olympics Ontario 2019 Winter Games. Donations are typically for $500. Often, requests for help are made by civilian or uniformed members of the police department. Money donated comes from a special auction account created in 1979.
Board chair Lisa Vezeau-Allen and member Rick Webb disagreed with Shoemaker’s stance.
“The things that we’ve been supporting are for the good of the community and I think it’s good that the police service is involved,” said Webb. “It’s our way of also supporting those officers when they’re involved in some of these philanthropic activities. I think it’s not only important, I really think it’s necessary that we show that we’re supportive of community activities. I think us pulling back our support would send the wrong message.”
He has previously declared a conflict of interest when the board decided to give $1,500 to support three scholarships at Sault College. He is director of human resources and communications at the post-secondary institution.
Vezeau-Allen told the board “a lot of organizations” will dedicate “a set amount” for charitable giving.
“I think it’s important that we do commit back to our community because these are auction dollars that we benefit from and I think the greater community should have some benefit as well,” she said.
Vezeau-Allen doubts Sault residents would “take objection” to the board helping groups focused on crime prevention, “healthier” neighbourhoods and ensuring food security.
The discussion began when the board members reviewed an online request for donation form to be put on the police service’s website.
Vezeau-Allen suggested the minimum and maximum donations the board would make should be listed. The Ward 2 city councillor also wants what efforts will, and won’t, be supported by the board clearly spelled out.
Otherwise, she anticipates board secretary Sarah Miles will “get bombarded” by requests for help.
Member John Bruno echoed Vezeau-Allen. He noted the board traditionally deals with “just a few” requests for donations, but putting an application form online “would attract a ton of applications.” Highlighting the minimum and maximum amounts that could be donated may limit requests sought, said Bruno.
A board member since 2015, Bruno said members “did struggle” with Shoemaker’s concern.
“Our struggle was do we give (money) to everybody or do we not give it to everybody?” he said. “I think that was our concern.”
The police board passed a donation policy in March 2019. The document was created following a request from Provenzano for a clear outline to help board members decide what groups to help.
Criteria include supporting groups that back or promote the police department’s goals and objectives. Dollars donated can’t commit the service “to additional resources” unless the board, or chief, agrees. At the time, Chief Hugh Stevenson said he wanted the board, not the chief, to decide on charitable giving.
Stevenson kept that stance on Thursday, telling The Sault Star he doesn’t participate in charity-related discussions because “it’s a board decision.
“It’s their money,” he said following the meeting. “I don’t have control over their distribution of money, so I stay silent on it.”
A fifth board member, Ian MacKenzie, did not attend Thursday’s meeting.
On Twitter: @Saultreporter
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